Jalandhar, Sept. 24 -- With the aim of scientifically managing paddy stubble, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has directed coal-based thermal power plants in the state to procure biomass pellets and briquettes from nearby areas.

The officials of the board held meetings with the respective power plant authorities to ensure utilisation of biomass pellets in their units to handle paddy stubble through ex-situ management (removing and utilising the straw) techniques.

The state is expecting a production of nearly 19.32 million tonnes of straw from the paddy cultivated in nearly 31 lakh hectares. As per the action plan submitted by PPCB to the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM), the state has planned to manage 11.4 MT throu...